Liverpool v Real Madrid Champions League Betting Preview

19th October 2014

A real mouthwatering clash is in store this Wednesday evening, as Spanish giants Real Madrid travel to Merseyside to take on European legends Liverpool. This is the match all the purists have been waiting for and the passionate Liverpool fans are sure to make it an incredible atmosphere inside Anfield. Brendan Rodgers’ players are going to need to play at one hundred and ten percent if they are going to get the better of this Real Madrid side which is absolutely jam packed with stars including the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and James Rodríguez.

The fact that the Reds haven’t exactly set things on fire during the early part of this season must be a slight concern for their fans coming into this all important encounter, but form often goes out the window in games such as this. Both these teams have a magnificent pedigree when it comes to European football and this match has the potential to be the most entertaining of the Champions League fixtures of the current campaign.

Liverpool vs Real Madrid Outright Betting Odds

Looking at the outright market, the bookies have put Real Madrid in as favourites, with the Spaniards on offer at a best price of 19/20 with William Hill. Liverpool are available at 11/4 with bet365, while the draw can be backed at 3/1 with the same firm.

Liverpool’s return to the Champions League has seen them get off to a slightly disappointing start. Brendan Rodgers’ side were very poor in their opening match at home to Ludogorets Razgrad, but did eventually manage to secure all three points thanks to a fortunate penalty which was converted by captain Steven Gerrard in stoppage-time. Mario Balotelli had given his new side the lead in the 82 minute, only for some sloppy defending to let the Bulgarian champions back into the game very late on.

Mario Balotelli got a goal against Ludogorets

Things got a whole lot worse in Liverpool’s trip to Basel, with last season’s Premier League runners-up going down by a goal to nil in Switzerland. As Real Madrid already have six points on the board in Group B, a positive result this Wednesday is likely to be crucial if Liverpool are to make the latter stages of the competition.

Although a third place finish in La Liga last season will not have been good enough for anyone connected with Real Madrid, winning the Champions League is arguably what kept Carlo Ancelotti in a job. That victory was made all the more sweet for the fact it came at the expense of bitter rivals Atletico Madrid, and it was Real’s first European trophy since 2002.

Ronaldo and co have started the defence of their title in solid fashion, brushing Basel aside by five goals to one, before digging in to beat Ludogorets away from home. Ancelotti’s side should come into the game with Liverpool full of confidence, and being in a comfortable points position already, there is no real pressure on the reigning champions.

Both teams To Score?

Both teams to score is bound to be popular with the betting public here, and I’m a little surprised to see the yes option is available at odds of 8/13 with bet365. I don’t expect that price to last and personally, I think it’s more like a 1/3 chance that both sides will find the net. It’s very rare for Liverpool to fail to score in front of their home fans, and Real Madrid have conceded a goal in both of their Champions League victories thus far this season.

For anyone interested in at least one team failing to score this Wednesday night, the no option can be backed at a best price of 11/8 with William Hill. I fancy that there will be goals aplenty in this key game in Group B and a speculative bet on Liverpool/Real Madrid at 25/1 with Sky Bet could be a very interesting wager.

Ultimately, I expect Real Madrid to have too many guns for Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool side and the Champions League holders can all but assure their progression to the next stage of the tournament this week.